Electrolytic cell



Jan. 19, 1932. N, STA-[HAM ET AL 1,842,296

ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed 0G13. 30, 1929 ATTORNEY Pate-med Jan. 19,' 1932 UNITED STATES rPATENT orrica NOEL STATHAM, 0F IRVINGTON, NW YORK, .AND THOMAS G.

VIRGINIA, ASSIGNORS T0 WEST VIRGINIA. PULP YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE LEER, 0F OOVUIGWPOIL AND PAPER CMPNY, Olli" NEW nmc'rnotrfrrc carla Application led October 3U, 1929. Serial No. tw.

The present invention relates to electrolytic cells and has for an object to provide an improved cell which will be resistant to the deleterious effects of the chemicals used an formed therein.

rlhe invention has been developed in connection with the production of a cell of the type used for dissociating brines to make chlorine caustic hydrogen and such an em bodiment ofthe invention will be described. for the purposes of illustrating the principles of the invention. The cell may, vfor example, be used for reclaiming valuable products from waste pulp mill liquors.

The nature and objects of the invention will be better understood from a description of a particular illustrative embodiment for the purposes of which description reference should be had to the accompanying draw# ings forming a part hereof-and in which- Figure 1 is a central sectional viewof a cell constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line Il-lll of lig. 1,' and Fig;"3 is a detail sectional view of the cathode wall taken on the line lll-lll ot Fig. 2.

The cell shown for the purposes ot illus tration comprises an outer container 5 of vitreous material resistant to chlorine which may for example be stoneware or glass resting on a base 6 and provided with a tight cover 7, a suitable chlorine outlet 8 being provided through said cover. Within the container there is provided a cathode 9 consisting of a perforated steel cylinder lOyoovered with a porous asbestos paper diaphragm 11, said cylinder being suitably closed at the top and bottom.3 As shown the bottom closure consists of adished steel plate 12 having `a central caustic discharge outlet 13 and the top closure consists of a similar dished steel plate 1l having a central hydrogen discharge' outlet 15 and having a negative terminal connection 16.

Surrounding the cathode are a series of anodes 17 which may be graphite bars hav` ing terminal connections 18 at their upper ends. The anodes are arranged circumfertit) entially around the cathode and between it and the container wall, the spaces between'4 the anodes being such 'that the sum of the the surface areas are substantially equal pro-` viding a cell of low internal resistance. 'lhe joints between the cylindrical cathode and the container at the bottom and the joint between the cathode and the container cover at the top are made tight by any suitable means to prevent leakage of the electrolyte or of the gas evolved in the cell. The cathode and the anodes can be removed for repair or replacement.

ln operation the annular anode chamber is lept Hlled with brine and the caustic soda produced is drained ofi' from the bottom of the cathode chamber while the hydrogen and chlorine are taken off at the respective outlets in the top of the cell.

rlhe foregoing particular description is 'illustrative merely and is not intended as delining the limits of the invention.

- We claim:

1. An electrolytic cell of the character described comprising, in combination, an outer container of vitreous material, an inner cathode consisting o'fa perforated cylinder closed at its top and bottom and surrounded by a porous diaphragm,4 said cylinder having a liquid dischargeoutlet at the bottom and a gas discharge outlet at the top, and a series of anodes surrounding the cathode and between it and the vitreous container, the sum ot the widths of the anodes being substantially equal to the circumference of the cathode.

2. An electrolytic cell of the character described comprising, in combination, an outer container ofy vitreous material, an inner cathode consisting of a perforated cylinder closed at its top and bottom and surrounded by a porous diaphragm, said cylinder having conical closures at its top and bottom With a liquid discharge outlet at the bottom and a gas discharge outlet at the top, and a series yof anodes surrounding the cathode and mounted in a chamber exterior to the outer periphery of the cathode.

In testimony whereof, We have signed our names to this specification this twenty-first day of October, 1929.

NOEL STATI-IAM. THOMAS G. LEEK. 

